Training Courses Scotland and UK

HSE clampdown on unsafe construction sites

Feb 22, 2011

Over the next three weeks, construction sites across Scotland will be visited as part of an intensive inspection initiative aimed at reducing death and injury in one of Britain's most dangerous industries.

During 2009/10, three workers died while working in construction across Scotland, two during refurbishment, repair and maintenance activities, and there were 1,124 injuries to construction workers.

Starting on 14th February, Inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will be making unannounced visits to refurbishment sites throughout Scotland. The focus of the HSE inspectors will be ensuring that sites are managing work at height safely and that they are in good order, as well as checking that the risk of exposure to asbestos is being properly managed.

In a similar campaign last year inspectors visited 276 sites and 376 contractors across Scotland. They issued 82 enforcement notices across 77 sites, and were forced to issue 62 prohibition notices to stop dangerous work - much of it relating to working from height.